May 25 – June 22, 2023
Celebrating 34 years of bringing beautiful music to Cape May, NJ.
OK CELLO
Thursday, May 25: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
Atlanta-based cellist-songwriter, looper, improviser and storyteller, Okorie “OkCello” Johnson’s work centers on themes and expressions of the African Diaspora, his personal truths, a deep love and celebration of women, and a commitment to musical prayer. Drawing upon his experience as a teacher and writer, OkCello immerses his audiences in vivid stories as well as songs, creating a richly layered and transcendent experience.
Drawing upon his experience as a teacher and writer, OkCello immerses his audiences in vivid stories as well as songs, creating a richly layered and transcendent experience.
ATLANTIC BRASS BAND
Sunday, May 28: 7pm
Rotary Park (rain location Convention Hall)
The Atlantic Brass Band, under the baton of Salvatore Scarpa, presents a program of rousing American music, the perfect finish to the Memorial Day Weekend. Co-sponsored by Cape May MAC and the City of Cape May.
FREE Admission. No purchase necessary.
ERICH CAWALLA
Tuesday, May 30: 7pm
Cape May Convention Hall
Erich Cawalla is a nationally charting singer/saxophonist who many know as leader of The Uptown Band. In 2022, after a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19, he released his solo debut album “Erich Cawalla – The Great American Songbook” to stellar reviews. Erich has assembled an all-star band to perform some of the world’s most well-known hits from some of his top influences including Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Smokey Robinson, Nat King Cole, and MANY MORE!
NEW YORK CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
Tuesday, June 6: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
“The Heavenly Harp with Flute and Strings”
With Stacey Shames, harp
Gabriel Pierne: Variations Libre et Final: Quintet for flute, harp and string trio
Maurice Ravel: Ma mère l”Oye (Mother Goose) Suite
With works by Carlos Salzedo and Herman Beeftink
BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
Thursday, June 8: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
“Tango and Tyrol”
Jed Gaylin, Conductor
Oswaldo Golijov: Last Round
Schubert Octet (chamber orchestra arrangement)
Argentine composer Oswaldo Golijov’s tribute to Astor Piazzolla––and therefore to tango––pulses with driving rhythm and languorous melody. Its sexy urbanity contrasts completely with Schubert’s breathtaking lyricism of upper Austrian mountain airs and his jaunty peasant dances. Though written as an octet, Schubert’s marvel will be performed with chamber orchestra to honor his symphonic conception and scope.
NEW JERSEY SYMPHONY
CHAMBER PLAYERS
Tuesday, June 13: 7pm
Episcopal Church of the Advent
Wynton Marsalis: At the Octoroon Balls – String Quartet No. 1
Samuel Barber: String Quartet in B minor, Op. 11
Astor Piazzolla: Tango Ballet for String Quartet
Héctor Falcón, violin
Bryan Hernandez-Luch, violin
Brett Deubner, viola
Nayoung Baek, cello
11th ANNUAL GEORGE MESTERHAZY
TRIBUTE CONCERT
Sunday, June 18: 7pm
Cape May Convention Hall
Barry Miles, Music Director
“A Little Help From My Friend George”
George’s close-knit musical colleagues share how George enriched their lives as they entertain us with selections from the Great American Songbook and beyond.
BAY ATLANTIC SYMPHONY
Thursday, June 22: 7pm
Cape May Convention Hall
“Starry Stories”
Jed Gaylin, Conductor
With Kimberly Reighley and Rong Tan
L’amant anonyme Overture, Symphony No. 2: Joseph Bologne
Concerto for Flute and Harp: Mozart
Two touchstone works by Mozart of tremendous depth, color, and expression form the pillars of this program. Bay Atlantic Symphony flutist Kimberly Reighley and harpist Rong Tan join us on this sumptuous concert for full orchestra. We open with a wonderfully textured overture by French Creole violin virtuoso and composer Joseph de Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges.
More About Music
More About Music: Composers of the 2023 Cape May Music Festival
May 3rd: 12 pm
More About Music: Mozart’s Last Symphony, the Jupiter
THURSDAY Jun 22nd: 12 pm
The last concert of our Cape May Music Festival will end with a performance of the last symphony of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – his 41st. Join Bay Atlantic Symphony conductor Jed Gaylin and symphony cellist and MAC Museum Educator Brenda Leonard for an in-depth look at this landmark composition. We’ll talk about what to listen for in each of the four movements and how the symphony acquired its nickname, “the Jupiter”. Have lunch with us, then plan to attend the performance at 7pm at Convention Hall!
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